"Viruses are the dark angels of evolution, terrific and terrible, without which, the immense biological diversity gracing our planet would collapse." In 2013 veteran science writer David Quammen wrote an opinion piece for the New York Times titled, The Next Pandemic: Not if, but When?  Seven years later he found himself writing about the horrors of the very thing he had foretold, as the Covid-19 virus surged throughout our world. This week, continuing our special Zoonotic Disease In the Spotlight month, David joins us for a second time round to discuss his book BREATHLESS: The Scientific Race to Defeat a Deadly Virus. BREATHLESS  is the story of SARS-CoV-2 and its fierce journey through the human population, as seen by the scientists who study its origin, its ever-changing nature, and its capacity to kill us. Through conversations with 95 expert scientists, David examines how Covid and other strange viruses emerge from other animals and infect we human apes, leading to global catastrophe.   This week on Talking Apes, we ask David: How did Covid-19 start?How are bats linked to Covid-19? Why do bats cause pandemics? Why do zoonotic diseases emerge from wet markets? Are all viruses bad?Did governments respond badly to the Covid-19 crisis?How can we prevent future pandemics?   Click HERE to visit David Quammen's Website. Click HERE to learn more about zoonotic diseases.  Support the showTalking Apes is an initiative of the nonprofit GLOBIO. Official website: talkingapes.org Instagram: @talkingapes_podcast Twitter: @talking_apes Click here to support the show.